All Science
First LookNobel Prize in physics celebrates mysteries of black holesThe 2020聽Nobel Prize in physics was split between three scientists for their research advancing humankind鈥檚 understanding of black holes,聽鈥渙ne of the most exotic objects in the universe.鈥澛�
First LookCould plant-based meat open up space for lab-grown varieties?Sales of plant-based "meat" have soared over the past few months as people pay more attention to food sources. Lab-based meat producers are hoping the shift in the market will provide an opportunity for them as well, but resistance to alternative meats remains.
Life in clouds of Venus? Why murky clue tantalizes scientists.Scientists find signs that the atmosphere of Venus contains phosphine, a gas typically聽produced by microorganisms.聽
First LookChemical detected in Venus' clouds could point to lifeScientists have detected phosphine, a chemical usually associated with life on Earth, in Venus' atmosphere. While the finding is intriguing, they say more proof is needed to definitively point to life.
Holy misdirected anger! Bats not to blame, say scientists.Bats have long been associated with malevolence. But killing them only makes things worse, say biologists.
Where are the Black geoscientists? Online campaign calls for diversity.Organized online by Black geoscientists around the world, the week is part of a larger movement aimed at increasing diversity in the sciences.
Did life on Earth come from space? Chummy microbes offer clues.Clumps of bacteria can survive in space, say scientists, in a study supporting the idea that life on Earth may have come from elsewhere.
Herd community: There鈥檚 more to cows than we thought, say scientistsIt鈥檚 tempting to think of cows as unthinking ruminants, but research reveals that their herds are held together by an intricate social web.
In a polarized world, what does 鈥榝ollow the science鈥� mean?Science is all about asking questions, but when scientific debates become polarized it can be difficult for citizens to interpret arguments鈥� merits.
How are zoo, aquarium animals coping with all this? Not badly, say keepers.Like their human counterparts, zoo animals felt stress during the lockdown and the reopening. But animal keepers know how to help.
First LookSpaceX brings astronauts home, ending historic missionAfter a fast, bumpy, and hot ride from the International Space Station, SpaceX Endeavour capsule splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico.
With Perseverance, NASA launches new stage in Mars explorationLoaded with a suite of upgraded instruments, NASA鈥檚 Perseverance rover heralds a new era in Mars exploration.
The ExplainerAs pandemic halted much of the world, scientists shifted gearsThe coronavirus pandemic has cast a spotlight on how science works. It鈥檚 not always pretty, but it usually gets the job done.
The Warsaw Ghetto beat an epidemic. Scientists say they know how.Mathematical modeling of typhus infections in the notorious Nazi ghetto leaves only one explanation, say scientists: social distancing saved the day.聽
First LookWhat the first snapshot of another solar system can teach usThe European Southern Observatory鈥檚 Very Large Telescope photographed two planets orbiting a baby sun 300 light-years away.聽The observations can help scientists better understand the evolution of our own solar system.
NASA鈥檚 spacesuits have a gender problem. These women are fixing it.NASA鈥檚 all-female spacewalk last year was held up because they lacked enough spacesuits that fit women. These women are helping to solve that problem.
First LookA first for the Arab world: UAE spacecraft en route to MarsThe United Arab Emirates, a聽space development newcomer, is celebrating the successful launch of its first interplanetary spacecraft, called Amal or Hope. Amal is expected to reach the red planet in February 2021, and will start transmitting data later that year.
First LookMission to Mars: 3 countries to launch rovers in search of lifeMars continues to captivate the human imagination despite many unsuccessful missions. Starting this week, the United Arab Emirates, then China and the U.S. later this month, will send unmanned spacecraft to explore the Red Planet.聽
As US cases soar, 鈥榗oronavirus detectives鈥� face new pressureContact tracing is a known method of limiting outbreaks. But many states have too few contact tracers to handle the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
Lockdowns are turning cooped-up residents into citizen scientistsBird counts are booming, and public participation is transforming all science as more amateur enthusiasts participate and experts welcome it.